Shower Curtain for Medical Necessities

ABSTRACT

A splash barrier adapted for providing medical necessities to a bather is described. A method of fabrication is provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is filed under 37 CFR §1.53(b) and claims benefit of an earlier filing date under 35 U.S.C. 120 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/256,557, filed Oct. 30, 2009, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally an aid for the handicapped, and in particular, to a shower curtain providing useful features for medical necessities.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

For many people, stepping in and out of a shower or bathtub is accomplished without thought, and without encumbrance. Likewise, bathing proceeds in a uncomplicated fashion. However, for some individuals, this simple task can be a challenge. Consider, for example, a person that is condemned to having supplied oxygen.

For the person that receives supplied oxygen, showering can be quite a challenge. Consider that the oxygen supply must generally remain outside of the bathing area (i.e., the bathtub or shower). Accordingly, having oxygen tubes running around a shower curtain is the only recourse. Unfortunately, this clearly impedes the efficacy of the shower curtain as the bather moves about. As a result, bathing can be an onerous task when the bather takes care to keep the oxygen supply and the surrounding area relatively dry.

What are needed are apparatus for providing accommodation to bathers having medical needs. Preferably, the apparatus facilitate the use of medical equipment during bathing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention provides a splash barrier adapted for providing medical necessities to a bather, the splash barrier including a curtain that has at least one slit disposed along a length thereof, wherein the slit is adapted for passage of the medical necessities from a dry area into a bather in a wet area; and a respective flap covering each of the slits to prevent splash from the wet area into the dry area.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for fabricating a shower curtain adapted for supporting medical necessities, that includes selecting a shower curtain; and incorporating a slit into a length of the material, wherein the slit is adapted for passage of the medical necessities from a dry area into a bather in a wet area.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present invention are explained in the following Detailed Description of the Invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a splash barrier in the form of a shower curtain according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of the splash barrier;

FIG. 3 provides a side view of the splash barrier depicting a flap;

FIG. 4 provides a side view of the splash barrier having a shower curtain with an outer curtain; and

FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of the splash barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a splash barrier that provides users with access to medical equipment maintained outside of a bathing area. In one embodiment, the splash barrier is a shower curtain. One skilled in the art will recognize that the teachings herein are not limited to use with a shower, and that a barrier including a curtain may be equally useful in other bathing arrangements and configurations. Accordingly, referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown an exemplary splash barrier according to the present invention that includes a shower curtain 10.

In the illustration of FIG. 1, the shower curtain 10 provides a splash barrier effectively blocking spillage of bathwater between a bathing area 2 (which may be referred to as a “wet area” as a matter of convenience) and a surrounding area 3 (which may be referred to as a “dry area” as a matter of convenience).

Generally, the shower curtain 10 is fabricated from material commonly used to fabricate shower curtains of the prior art. Exemplary materials include at least one of vinyl, PVC, and a variety of polymeric materials. The shower curtain 10 may be plastic, cloth or some combination of materials, and may be provided in a woven, non-woven, oriented or other type of fabric.

The shower curtain 10 may include complimentary materials in and/or on the body of the curtain 10. For example, the shower curtain 10 may be treated with fungicide, bactericides and the like. Such complimentary materials may be provided to generally discourage growth of mildew and the like, to provide for medical sanitation, and for other such purposes. In some embodiments, the complimentary materials are fabricated into the shower curtain 10, such as by incorporation of micro-encapsulated products into a polymer mixture used for fabrication.

For convenience of reference, the shower curtain 10 depicted herein generally has a height, H, and a length, L. Disposed along the length, L, of a top of the shower curtain 10 are a series of through ways 4, which may be reinforced (such as with metal, metallic, plastic or other types) of grommets.

Generally, the through ways 4 provide for various types of hooks, hoops or other retention devices that provide for hanging the shower curtain 10 from a curtain rod 5. Disposed along a length, L, of a bottom of the shower curtain 10 may be a series of embedded magnets 45 (shown in FIG. 4). Generally, the magnets 45 serve to keep the shower curtain 10 snugly against a metallic (i.e., magnetic) surface of a lower area, such as a wall of a bathtub.

In some embodiments, the shower curtain 10 may include at least one suspension unit 11 (see FIG. 3), such as a hook or other type of fastener. Generally, the hook is disposed through at least one of the through ways 4. The suspension unit 11 may be used for suspension of equipment such as bags of fluid for intravenous (IV) injection, a pump, a sponge, a washcloth, a brush and any other equipment deemed appropriate. The suspension unit 11 may be made of metal, metallic, a high tension plastic or polymer, wood, or any other material deemed suitable. The suspension unit may include a retractable (e.g., a ratcheting) leash. In this embodiment, a bather may lay down in the bathtub, bringing the suspended article (such as an IV bag) down to a suitable lower position, with subsequent restoration when preparing to exit from the bathing area. The suspension unit 11 may be integrated into the shower curtain 10, subsequently adorned and/or affixed upon the shower curtain 10, or provided in any other way deemed appropriate. The at least one suspension unit 11 may be disposed on either one or both sides of the shower curtain 10.

The shower curtain 10 generally includes a slit 20. Among other things, the slit 20 provides a main through way for passage of at least one of tubes, wires and other similar devices. Generally, the slit 20 provides for passage of any device supportive of the medical needs of the bather. Accordingly, the slit 20 may be sized such that an assistant in the dry area may pass a device in to the bather. One example of such a device includes a sponge.

The slit 20 may be provided as a generally lengthwise cut in the material of the shower curtain 10. In other embodiments, the slit 20 may exhibit a shape, such as in an oval, rectangular, square, elliptical or other shape. Generally, the slit 20 is provided of a size (i.e., length) and shape such that addressing anticipated medical needs is facilitated.

The shower curtain 10 includes at least one slit 20. Any one shower curtain 10 may include a plurality of slits 20. This may be beneficial, for example, so that bathers of varying heights may be well served.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shower curtain 10 may include a reinforced area 30 disposed proximate to the slit 20. Generally, the reinforced area 30 is designed and fabricated such that frequent use of the slit 20 does not give way to tearing, fraying or other forms of wear of the shower curtain 10. Also as shown in FIG. 2, the flap may extend to a side of the shower curtain 10. Reinforcement may also be provided across the slit 20. This may be particularly important for embodiments where the slit 20 extends to a side end of the shower curtain 10.

Further reinforcement may be provided with the insertion of at least one stiffener 42 (e.g., a batten) into pockets 41 within the shower curtain 10. The at least one stiffener 42 generally is a thin strip of solid material, which may be made from wood, plastic, fiberglass, metal or some combination of materials. The stiffeners 42 may be inserted into pockets 41 in a manner similar to how battens are used in a sail of a sailboat. The at least one stiffener may be used to provide vertical stiffening and therefore reduce the distortion of the shower curtain 10 while weight hangs from the shower curtain 10, or may be inserted at some angle, including up to ninety degrees (i.e., horizontally disposed). Combinations of stiffeners 42 and stiffener orientations may be used.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slit 20 may be generally protected by a flap 31. The flap 31 is provided to protect against splashing of bath water through the slit 20. A number of embodiments may be realized. For example, the flap 31 may be disposed on an interior (i.e., wet side) of the shower curtain 10, at some height, H, above the slit 20. In such an embodiment, the flap 31 generally extends below the slit 20. In an another embodiment, the flap 31 is disposed on the dry side of the shower curtain, and fed through the slit 20, such that the bather only sees a lower portion of the flap 31.

Additional components for sealing the flap 31 may be provided. For example, a lower portion of the flap 31 may be fastened to the shower curtain 10. The fasteners may include, by way of example, a traditional metal zipper, hook and loop type fasteners (commonly referred to by the tradename VELCRO™), a molded zipper (commonly referred to by the tradename ZIPLOC™), snaps, hooks, clips and the like. In another embodiment, the fasteners include weak magnets embedded in the flap 30, with corresponding weak magnets (of an opposite polarity) in the shower curtain 10. In this embodiment, the flap 31 will generally close itself when in a relaxed position.

The shower curtain 10 may be adorned with ornamentation as desired. For example, stickers for breast cancer awareness may be added to at least one of the exterior and the interior. Any design, pattern, logo or other embellishment may be used. The ornamentation may be surface mounted, textured, three dimensional (such as to provide contoured features) and the like. Designs may be at least one of embedded into materials used for fabrication at the time of manufacture and subsequently applied to the shower curtain 10. The shower curtain 10 may be adapted, such as by controlling surface texturing to enhance future ornamentation.

As shown in FIG. 4, the shower curtain 10 disclosed herein may be used alone, as a single splash barrier, or in combination with an outer curtain 46. The outer curtain 46 may be independent of the shower curtain 10, such as a conventional outer curtain 46, or may be adapted to work with the shower curtain 10 or an integral part of the shower curtain 10. For example, the outer curtain 46 and the shower curtain 10 may include cooperative fastening systems (such as snaps) that keep the outer curtain 46 and the shower curtain 10 together (for example, in at least an upper portion of the assembly of the two curtains 46, 10). In some embodiments, the shower curtain 10 includes a “skirt” (shown as reference numeral 47 in FIG. 5) which serves as the outer curtain 46 (that is, there is a flap on a lower exterior portion of the shower curtain 10). In these embodiments, it may be useful to include weight in the skirt, such that a downward tension is maintained on the shower curtain 10, thus offsetting or minimizing distortion in the shower curtain 10 from weights hanging on the suspension unit 11. The outer curtain 46 may include a variety of features (as deemed appropriate), such as those disclosed herein for the shower curtain 10.

Fabrication of the splash barrier may involve, in some embodiments, selection of appropriate material for use in the shower curtain 10. After sectioning the material into an appropriate size, the slit 20 may be incorporated (such as by melting, cutting, or the like). Additional features may be incorporated, such as the reinforcement 30, suspension unit 11 and the like. Other features such as a skirt, grommets, and the like may also be added. In alternative embodiments, at least some of these features are incorporated directly in the splash barrier, such as through a molding process. Conventional fabrication methods and techniques may be used, and may include, for example, molding, welding, clipping, stamping, gluing, fusing and the like.

While discussed in terms of a shower curtain 10, one skilled in the art will recognize that aspects of the invention disclosed herein may be applied to shower doors, sliding doors, and other types of splash barriers. Accordingly, the discussion of the splash barrier in terms of a shower curtain 10 is not intended to be limiting of the teachings herein.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, method of fabrication or other aspect to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A splash barrier adapted for providing medical necessities to a bather, the splash barrier comprising: a curtain comprising at least one slit disposed along a length thereof, wherein the slit is adapted for passage of the medical necessities from a dry area into a bather in a wet area; and a respective flap covering each of the slits to prevent splash from the wet area into the dry area.
 2. The barrier as in claim 1 further comprising at least one reinforced area.
 3. The barrier as in claim 1 further comprising a flap that protects the slit.
 4. The barrier as in claim 3, wherein at least one of the barrier and the flap further comprise fasteners for securing the flap.
 5. The barrier as in claim 4, wherein the fasteners comprise at least one of a compliment of hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners, a snap fastener, a zipper, a molded zipper, a clip and a hook.
 6. The barrier as in claim 1, further comprising at least one suspension unit affixed to at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the barrier, the unit adapted for retention of medical equipment.
 7. The barrier as in claim 6, wherein the medical equipment comprises at least one of a pump, a sponge, a washcloth, a brush and a bag of fluid.
 8. The barrier as in claim 6, wherein the suspension unit comprises at least one of a hook, clip, loop, a leash, a complimentary portion of a hook and loop fastener and a magnet.
 9. The barrier as in claim 1 further comprising pockets adapted for retention of stiffeners.
 10. The barrier as in claim 9, wherein the slit comprises a shape that is one of oval, rectangular, square and elliptical.
 11. The barrier as in claim 1 further comprising an outer curtain that is at least one of fastenable to shower curtain and integrated into the shower curtain.
 12. The barrier as in claim 1 further comprising adaptations for ornamentation.
 13. A method for fabricating a shower curtain adapted for supporting medical necessities, the method comprising: selecting a shower curtain; and incorporating a slit into a length of the material, wherein the slit is adapted for passage of the medical necessities from a dry area into a bather in a wet area.
 14. The method as in claim 13, further comprising incorporating reinforcing material to the shower curtain.
 15. The method as in claim 13, further comprising adding at least one suspension unit to the shower curtain by at least one of molding, welding, clipping, stamping, gluing and fusing the unit to the curtain.
 16. The method as in claim 13, further comprising incorporating at least one pocket into the shower curtain, the pocket adapted for retention of at least one stiffener.
 17. The method as in claim 13, further comprising incorporating a flap to protect the slit.
 18. The method as in claim 13, further comprising providing an outer curtain to mate with the shower curtain.
 19. The method as in claim 13, further comprising incorporating complimentary materials into the shower curtain. 